From the page: "Last year, despite the world recession, China-Africa trade leapt to $107 billion " a rise of 45 per cent in one year and even beating African trade with the US. Direct Chinese investment in Africa grew from $491 million in 2003 to $7.8 billion in 2008. The results are visible everywhere. Chinese workers are building roads, ports, dams, railways, football stadiums, hotels and office blocks. China angrily rebuts suggestions that it wants a neocolonial-style expansion but knows that it can count on the votes of African states whenever it faces possible censure over human rights abuses at home or controversial issues such as Tibet. The Vice-Minister of Commerce, Chen Jian, said this week: China's aid to Africa is based on Africa's needs without imposing any political pre-conditions." - runawaymule/Chris